𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

As we approach the end of the year, it seems right to pause and take a look back on how the great and good of our political class have performed over the past 12 months. While Christmas is often a time of generosity and charity, reflecting on how some of the country’s politicians have done their jobs in 2025 stretches my ability to embody these seasonal values to breaking point.

From sleaze and scandal, to u-turns and chaos, through to the other end of the spectrum of success, this year has provided it all. The public have been watching closely, and polls give a strong indication as to who’s done best: Nigel Farage riding high, Kemi saving the Tories from oblivion, and Keir Starmer plummeting to hitherto unknown depths. Let’s reflect below, and hope Brits are better served next year.

Keir Starmer

Oh dear, oh dear – where to begin. At best you can say Keir Starmer struggled to get much done. At worst he’s sealed his fate as the shortest-serving Labour Prime Minister since Callaghan.

The economy stalled, taxes rose to their highest level ever (more on that next), the small boat crisis was the worst on record, energy bills are up, house building was worse than it was under the Tories, and now we’ve got yet more NHS-crippling doctors’ strikes.

His personal polling is now the worst of any Prime Minister in history, and Labour’s popularity is somewhere between the black death and Prince Andrew.

As a result, he’s cancelling elections at a rate not seen since the pandemic and trying to involve the King in his desperate attempts to cling onto power.

But, and this is crucial, things could get worse next year. For that reason, I’m giving a very generous 3/10.

Rachel Reeves

One of the few big names on this list to really give Sir Keir a run for his money as the least successful politician of the year.

Her second Budget raised taxes by another eye-watering £26 billion, to their highest level in history.

More importantly she broke Labour’s manifesto pledges to protect working people from tax rises, all to fund an exploding welfare bill she’s too cowardly to bring down.

Then we learned she had spent months lying to voters about the need to raise taxes, and that her supposed fiscal black hole was completely made up.

She must be delighted the PM’s far too weak to sack her. 2/10.

Ed Milliband

A slightly more nuanced review. Yes, he may be a walking, talking adenoidal irritant intent on hiking all our energy bills with his ideological obsession with Net Zero, which will do nothing to bring down global temperatures.

But, on the other hand, he remains inexplicably popular with Labour members who are clearly too young to remember that voters thankfully rejected him in 2015.

This means he stands a terrifying chance of replacing Keir Starmer should he be ousted next year.

On this basis, I’ll give him a very generous 4/10.

Wes Streeting

Now, don’t shout me down as an establishment stooge, but I have a big soft spot for Wes. He’s young, articulate, charismatic, and most importantly speaks like an ordinary member of the human race.

He’s succeeded in raiding Rachel Reeves for as much cash as he possibly can, and waiting lists – unlike all other policy indicators for this government – appear to be moving in the right direction, however slowly.

However, his year has ended on a low after the latest junior doctors’ walkout, something he appeared to believe would never happen under a Labour government and was solely a crisis created by the evil Tories.

Provided we all make it through this super flu season to see out next year, he remains in a very good position for a potential Labour leadership election. 6.5/10

David Lammy

A politician so inept he’s picked up about half a dozen nicknames over the course of the year, none of which are positive and most of which I couldn’t possibly repeat in a family publication.

Calamity Lammy, the Lammy Dodger, the court jester, whatever you call him he’s a stand out for ineptitude in this government.

He spent the first half of the year negotiating away the Chagos Islands and having to deal with Donald Trump whom he spent the last five years calling every name under the sun.

Then he got demoted and put in charge of releasing dangerous criminals – some of whom he simply let escape for a fun national game of Celebrity Hunted.

I don’t have time to mention the poppy farce. 1/10.

Kemi Badenoch

A year of very two stark halves. Until October she was a write off, almost certain to be ousted next May.

She failed to get any traction with the public, was rubbish at the dispatch box, had no social media presence, and no policies.

Then she apparently discovered a magic genie and everything changed. Suddenly she was demolishing Keir Starmer every week at PMQs, the Tories social media output took off, the policies she came up with hit just the right spot and she began to rise in the polls.

She has a lot more work to do, and the next local elections will still be a huge test.

But the landing is always more important than the run up. 6.5/10.

Robert Jenrick

The Shadow Justice Secretary has had a quieter year than recent comparisons, partly thanks to Kemi Badenoch managing to get a grip at the party’s conference.

However, his ongoing energetic campaigning – first against Shabana Mahmood, then against David Lammy – means he is still the Tory grassroots’ favourite and in poll position to take the crown should Ms Badenoch slip up.

His social media campaigning videos remain a template for aspirant politicians, and his dispatch box performance remains great entertainment. 7/10.

Nigel Farage

This was undoubtedly Nigel Farage’s year. From dominating every poll since April, winning dozens of by-elections and – if the election were held tomorrow – heading for No. 10.

His press conferences are unmissable and despite the establishment’s best efforts to knock him off course in recent months it seems the public is too fed up to care.

However, next year will be the real test of whether he can keep all of this up. 2029 is a very long way away and the road to Downing Street is paved with stumbling blocks. 8.5/10.

Zack Polanski

The surprise late-entry into this list. He’s come from nowhere to be an inexplicable political sensation on the hard left.

The gap-toothed commie’s leadership has seen the Green Party surge, in some polls past even the Labour Party and the Tories.

More importantly, he’s conclusively killed off Jeremy Corbyn’s hopes of a political revival with Your Party (if you’re wondering, he gets a rating of -100/10).

It’s likely he will sustain a lead over Labour provided it continues to be governed by the same incompetent lot next year. 7/10

Ed Davey

Who? ?/10.